Shelf construction



H. A. GURRIES SHELF CONSTRUCTION April 16, 1957 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9. 1950 I N V EN TORI. Henry 14. Gar/'1 e5 2,44%

ATTORNEYS April 1957 H. A. GURRIES 2,788,949

SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR; Hen rg 6 60/77 65 l /fA/w 14 TTOPNE Y5 United States Patent SHELF CONSTRUCTION Henry A. Gurries, San Jose, Calif.

Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,131

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-242) This invention relates generally to a shelf construction suitable for displaying merchandise.

In the shelf construction shown in my Patent No. 2,693,884, the brackets utilized for supporting the shelves are not reversible and hence the same brackets cannot be utilized for providing a horizontal shelf-supporting surface or an inclined shelf-supporting surface. This makes it necessary to produce brackets for each type of supporting surface desired.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide shelf construction having reversible shelf-supporting brackets which can be used for providing either a horizontal shelf-supporting surface or an inclined shelfsupporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction of the above character in which the shelf brackets are suitable for carrying heavy loads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction of the above character in which the brackets can be readily mounted.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a view of the shelf construction embodying the present invention and shows a portion of a gondola partially in cross section with shelf-supporting brackets mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the shelf-supporting bracket shown in Figure 1 and shows the'shelf-supporting bracket in a position in which it provides an inclined shelf-supporting surface.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but shows the shelf-supporting bracket in a position in which it provides a horizontal shelf-supporting surface.

Figure 5 is a detail view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified shelf-supporting bracket and supporting means for the bracket.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but shows the bracket in a position in which it provides a horizontal shelf-supporting surface instead of an inclined shelf-supporting surface as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

In general, the present invention consists of a shelf construction provided with reversible shelf-supporting brackets adapted to be carried by the vertical ribs or supports of gondolas. The reversible brackets in one position present horizontal shelf-supporting surfaces, and in a reverse position present inclined shelf-supporting surfaces.

The shelf construction shown in the drawing consists of a gondola 11. The gondola 11 is similar to that described in my Patent No. 2,693,884 and comprises a plurality of vertical supporting members 12 mounted upon a base 13.

The vertical supporting members 12 may be formed in any suitable manner, but preferably are formed of stamped metal. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, these sup-v porting members are formed of a pair of fin webs 14 having right angle flanges 16. The flanges 16 serve to stiffen the fin webs 14 and also provide support for the wall panels 18 connecting the vertical supporting members 12.

Each of the fin webs is provided with a plurality of holes 19 so spaced that the holes in one fin Web are in registry with the holes in the adjacent fin web. The registered holes are adapted to accommodate spacing and mounting members 21. The spacing and mounting members 21 are provided with an enlarged portion 21a which serves to space apart the two fin webs 14 making up each the ends may be crimped or turned so that they engage be used for supporting one side of the wall panels 18 asshown in Figure 2.

The spacing and mounting members 21 provide a support or mounting for a plurality of reversible shelf-supporting brackets 23, as hereinafter described. Each of the brackets comprises a substantially planar elongate member 24. One end of the elongate member 24 is provided with means for securing the member to the spacing and mounting members 21 and consists of a pair of hook-like portions 26 and 27 facing in substantially opposite directions which are adapted to engage the mounting members 21. An abutment surface 28 is provided on one end of the member 24 adjacent the hook 26, and an abutment surface 29 is provided on the member 24 adjacent the hook portion 27. The abutment surfaces 28 and 29 are adjacent the outer edges of the member 24 and the hook portions 26 and 27 are disposed between the abutment surfaces 28 and 29.

The member 24 is also provided with a pair of flat shelf-supporting edges 31 and 32. The shelf-supporting surface 31 is inclined at an angle with respect to shelfsupporting surface 32 and is adapted to provide an in- .clined shelf-supporting surface when the bracket is mounted as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the shelf-supporting edge or surface 31 faces upwardly and the hook portion 26 engages one of the mounting members 21 and the abutment surface 29 engages the other of the mounting members 21 to hold the shelf supporting edge 31 in such a position that it will provide an inclined shelf-supporting surface.

When the bracket 23 is turned upside down from the position shown in Figure 3, and mounted in such a manner that the hook portion 27 engages one of the mounting members 21 and the abutment surface 28 engages another of the mounting members 21, shelf-supporting edge 32 will be facing upwardly and will be held in such a position that it will provide a horizontal shelf-supporting surface. Thus, it is apparent that merely by reversing the bracket either a horizontal shelf-supporting surface or an inclined shelf-supporting surface can be provided.

The reversible brackets serve as a support for shelves which are adapted to be mounted thereon in any suitable manner. For example, the shelves may be provided with a rib which is adapted to cooperate with a slot 33 pro vided in each of the shelf-supporting edges 31 and 32. The slot will also serve to prevent the shelf from sliding off the brackets when the brackets are in an inclined position.

A modification of the present invention is shown in Patented Apr. 16, 1957- Figures 5, 6 and'7. As shown, the vertical support members 12 are :provided with a pair of fin webs 37 which are secured together by suitable means such as rivets 3 9. vflheefin webs 37 are die cut as shown to provide offset portions 41 leaving straight portions 42. The ends of the offset portions and the straight portions are bent to formfia-nges 43 and flanges 44 respectively which serve as a support for one side of the wall panels 18. However,

the flanges 43 on the offset portions 41 are narrower than 'the flanges 44 .on'the straight portions for a purpose here- .49 ahd 51 facing in substantially opposite directions. An

abutment .surface'SZ is formed adjacent'hook portion .49 and another abutment surface 53 is formed adjacent hook portion 51. {The elongate member is also provided with two 'flat'edges54 and 5 6, edge 54 being inclined with respect to edge 56. As shown in 'Figure 5, edge 54 faces upwardly to provide an inclined shelf-supporting surface. The bracket in this position is supported by hook portion 49 engaging a flange 44 and abutment surface 53 engaging another flange .44. As shown in Figure 7, one of the brackets can be mounted in each side of the fin webs 37.

When it is desired to reverse the bracket to the position shown in Figure 6, it is merely necessary to turn the bracket upside down and cause the hook portion 51 to engage one .ofthe flanges 44 and tocause the abutment surface 52 to engage one of the other flanges 44. In

this position, the bracket provides a horizontal shelfsupporting surface. 7

it is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new and improved shelf construction having reversible shelf-supporting brackets to provide horizontal shelfsnpporting surfaces or inclined shelf-supporting surfaces.

'1. in a shelf construction of the type having vertical supports provided with a plurahty of mounting members, a reversible shelf-supporting bracket carried by said mounting: members and in one position presenting a hori- Zontal shelf-supporting surface, and in a reversed position presenting an inclined shelf-supporting surface, said bracket comprising a substantially planar elongate member, a pair of hooks facing in substantially opposite directions andadapted to engage said mounting members, said hooks being provided on one end of said elongate member, and an abutment surface adjacent each of said a i}, 1 hooks and adapted to engage said mounting members, said hooks being disposed between said abutment surfaces.

2. A reversible bracket as in claim 1 wherein said elongate member is provided with slots adapted to engage a detent in a shelf placed thereon.

3. in a shelf construction of the type having vertical supports provided with a plurality of mounting members, a reversible shelf-supporting bracket carired by said mounting members and in one position presenting a horizontal shelf-supporting surface and in the other reversed position presenting an inclinedshelf-supporting surface, said bracket comprising asubsta nii l y Planar elongate member, a pair of hooks facing in substantially opposite directions adapted to engage said mounting members, said hooks being provided on one end of said elongate member, a curved abutment surface adjacent each of said hooks and adapted to engage said mounting members, said hooks being disposed between said abutment surfaces, and slots in said elongate member adapted to engage a detent in the shelf placed thereon.

4. In a shelf construction of the type having vertical supports provided with a plurality of mounting members,

-a reversible shelf-supporting bracket carried by said mounting members and in one position presenting a horizontal shelf-supporting surface, and in the other reversed position presenting an inclined shelf-supporting surface, said bracket comprising a substantially planar elongate member, a pair of hooks facing in substantially opposite directions and adapted to engage said mounting members, said-hooks being provided on one end of said elongate member, a straight abutment surface adjacent each of said hooks and adapted to engage said mounting memhers, said hooks being disposed between said :abutment surfaces, and slots in said elongate member adapted to engage a detent in a shelf placed thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

